《Heroic Chronicles Volume 2: Dawn of the New Beginning》Chapter 06: The Life of a Growing Cub (Part 1)
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Chapter 06: The Life of a Growing Cub
Growing up is painful, but even more than not growing at all.
- Elsigardian Proverbs.
4.17am, Year 4009 AD, the 20th day of May, a day before my departure to the Elsivier.
I woke up early and it was still dark. The sun has yet to rise and the wind felt cool and chilly. I began my new morning routine, to practice my sword skills, The First Movement of Sun Sword.
I have been doing this for three days consecutively, the first time in recent years. Although I know the movement up to level 5 in theory, I never seem to get it right when I practice. What more when I need to apply the skills in battle, or any other important situations.
And it’s not only just my sword skills.
Any other physical skills that I have learned – Tracking and Hunting, Sight and Hearing, Sense Enhancement, Sixth Sense, Weapon skills which included swords, bows, dagger and axe, Animal Kinship, and some other minor ones – I never seem to pass a certain level. In fact, I hardly past the beginner level of those skills. It seems that I have reached a certain plateau with my physical skills, and that plateau was the Initiate skill level.
That haven’t included the mental and knowledge skills which include magic skills, lore and histories, alchemy and such that somehow I have not the aptitude for.
Yes, I learned them. Yes, I understand the theories behind what I have had learned.
But learning in class is not the same as practising in real life. And practising in real life was not the same as a real battle. Not even the slightest. What more if the battle involves life and death, where even a second can make a difference.
Because of this, I had given up practising and training. I even skip classes. It makes no difference whether I do well or sucks at it because I never seem to progress beyond a certain level.
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Where someone my age has reached the level of a Sun Master, like Black Rose, I’m still stuck at the Initiate level. At my age, with the number of years I’m been in the Brotherhood, the very least I can reach was a Guardian.
Heck, even the kids that are half my age are already in Journeyman rank.
Though I received the Journeyman rank just yesterday, but after 10 years?
Man, I must surely set the record for the slowest rank ascendance ever. If from Initiate to Journeyman which was just a single step away, what more of a Sun Master. I better give up before I get more disappointed.
Hard work, practice, attending classes and such are for morons and do-gooders or positive mental attitudes freaks who believe the harder they try, the better they get. Somehow, their luck and fate would change after all that.
Heh.
Sometimes, what I need was a dose of reality. I just need to admit that I was not good enough and settle for what I have, or else I would even lose that too. And when I’m old and grey, I’ll leave this world with nothing left with me. Not even my own self-identity.
However, that was the old me. That was what I used to think and believe. Not anymore.
The incident in the forest changed my outlook and perspective forever. I was given the life’s golden ticket and I plan to make every second count, if possible.
That means a new way of life, a new way of thinking and a new way believing. Yes, I’m still at the same level as before. But, there was a difference now. A difference between victory and losing, life and death. A difference between living your own life, or dying in it. A difference measured in a mere second.
Yes, that’s why I’m practising hard. Because even a second could make a difference. Between life and death. If I were to hit the monster a second faster, warned Sehanie a second earlier, grabbed her a second faster or even noticed the danger a second earlier, I wouldn’t have to endure the life and death experience. Nor put my loved ones into such state. A second, when accumulated over a certain period of times, makes much difference.
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I want to be that difference.
Even if I had to put my life on it. Never again I’ll put my loved one in danger. I’ll protect them. Even if it’s just one second, but it will be the most important one second ever.
With that thought, I gripped my practice sword harder and complete the First Movement of the Sun. However, this time I noticed a little difference. The sword seems lighter and my movement a little sharper. It might not be much, but when a second makes a difference, any incremental, no matter small they are, will help.
I wiped my sweat from my forehead. As soon as I did that, I heard a clap from behind me.
“Looks like someone decide at long last, to grow up.”
He turned away immediately after he said those words, but before he takes a step further, he raised a thumbs up for me.
Old geezer, thank you.
The Lord Supreme Grand Master gave a hearty laugh that broke the morning silence.
I’ll be that difference. When I return, I’ll be a new man. Old geezer, please don’t die during that time.
Lord Supreme Grand Master gave another hearty laugh.
I’m sure he heard me and knows it. I’ll be the Sun as what Blizzard Hawk use to say in his class. I muttered out loud our Brotherhood’s motto:
Nam quamdiu sol ortus est, nos non nuto, erit Pacem enim onmes
For as the long Sun rises, we shall not falter and there shall be Peace for all.
----
I’m back in my room after my morning routine. I have been exempted from all the classes and lessons so that I have time to prepare myself for my journey. However, I decided to travel light. I just need a few things to bring with me, that’s all. The journey, by itself, was not that long. So, travelling light would be the best course of action.
I had with me my Journeyman tunic, my sword, dagger, a canteen of water and a backpack. Perhaps I’ll add in a dry meal or two, loaves of bread perhaps. Other than that, what else?
Ah-ha!
I smirked when I thought of my next item on the list.
Hehehehehe.
I gave a somewhat sinister laugh that even I have goosebumps. If someone were to hear my laugh, they must have thought that I’m crazy or just have a few screw loose. Well, to do what I’m about to do, a few loose screws was needed after all. And a pair of balls. Preferably steel balls. Hehe.
It’s been a while since I have done that. Perhaps it’s time for next round. Who knows when I’ll be back. The girls would most likely be gone when I’m back. So, strike while the iron is hot. Or in this case, strike when the firewood is hot and the bath water is steamy. Just right after the sun sets would be the best time to strike. So for now, let me see what else I can do.
Before long, I have completed the list of items I need to bring with me and things to do before I start my journey. It was still early in the morning, but my first destination will be the Hobbit’s Lodge, the guild-city’s only tavern which served as the unwinding place for us members after a long day at work. The tavern won’t be busy at this time of the day.
With that, I begin my final day at the guild-city.
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Mark of Time: A LitRPG Timeloop
NOTE: This story has a patreon. It has not been linked into the fiction page due to some issues. You can find the Patreon at this link ***Previously titled Truth Seeker. Synopsis 1: In a trial of gods, where eight Marks would compete to find treasures unseen and vast, a ninth one appears with the ability to revert time. *** Synopsis 2: Jennifer was ready to enter Lienmont's Mage Academy, the place she'd been aspiring to reach for years now, in hopes of learning the many secrets of magic. What she hadn’t expected was to be dragged into the city's dungeon. Her journey found her in a trial of life and death that left a Mark seared on not just her body, but her very soul. And if that wasn’t enough, when she escaped the dungeon, she found her city in flames, burning as monstrous invaders slaughtered everyone they came across, including her. When Jennifer closed her eyes, she was certain her life had taken an unfair and tragic turn. But then she opened them, only to find that none of it had ever happened. The only proof she hadn’t gone mad was the Mark on her hand, burning with an inner fire.
8 183Dungeon Games
The world of Terra holds a very interesting and unique pastime, a game called Dungeon Wars. The game was developed after an accident created a form of Artificial intelligence that was able to create, and sustain it's own miniature habitat with an ecosystem based off of the creatures that began as it's 'start' This in turn created a craze of a new, and somewhat fun method of research that grew and became a game. They sold these A.I units for a modest sum, along with starter races, and from there it took off to become something larger, and greater. Welcome to the Dungeon Wars, a tournament based system where gamers can earn the points needed to increase their Dungeon pet A.I. quicker than natural means, and earn rare and prized races to add into their miniature ecosystem.
8 116The Monster Inside: The First Vampire
Despite appearances, there was once a time where monsters did not exist. Where peace and prosperity reigned over all life. But those sinful and demonic forces that had hidden themselves in the shadows just couldn't help themselves could they? They wanted a piece of that prosperity too. They wanted to taint it, corrupt it, revel in its dark side.This is the story of a boy who was tainted. Of a boy who unintentionally bore a seed of sin and who in his naivety let it out. This is the story of how that boy was shamed and disgraced. Of how he was outcast for simply being. This is the story of how that boy learned to embrace the darkness that made him different. A darkness that would later make him known as the Lord of Night. Note to Reader: I understand this book is not for everyone, if there is a writer that can write to please everyone, I have never heard of them. The MC can be frustrating in his decisions as he learns to grow and accept what and who he is. I believe this reality is unavoidable. That being said, if you feel the need to give a review, please do so, just know that I will report you if all that review seems to do is blab toxic language and insult my literary choices without giving constructive advice or alternatives. That's not just a me policy, that's a policy of this website. I'm not writing this note because I'm a writer who does not acknowledge that there are faults in my work. I know there are. That's what happens when it hasn't been professionally edited by someone other than the author. I'm saying this because I'm sick of reading 1 star or 0.5 star rated reviews that seem to do nothing but hate on the book because they don't like the story. No comments on grammar, ways to improve or suggestions for better story arcs. Just plain hate. It's not on, and I frankly shouldn't have to write this note, but needed to get it off my chest. In saying all that, thank you to those who do leave reviews that don't fall into the above category. Your appreciation of my work, or alternatively, your willingness to give advice for improvement, is appreciated.
8 1696A Tingle Later: A Different Kind of Hero Tale
A classic tale of a summoned hero.A classic tale of defeating the evil demon lord. ...but what if the demon lord loved peace? What if the demon lord didn't know he was supposedly gathering an army to invade other lands, until one of his loyal subjects told him about a rumour like that circulating around in their capital and causing panick about a summoned hero within the public?What is a demon lord to do? Meet the Hero: the alpha bitch clarinetistMeet the Demon Lord: the nerdy mathematician A start of a very unlikely tale.
8 161The Sleeper's Serenade
An age ago, the last of the gods ascended. Centuries have come and gone without them hearing their true names. A poor fisherman and a worse drunk, Harpis Akkeri, is stumbling and struggling to find his place amidst the bitterly divided city-states of his home. Unknown to most, there is a secretive organization keeping order through manipulation and murder, but are they the puppet or the puppet master? Not all who work in the shadows are willing to suffer them, and the greater good for all does not always suit those who execute it. Facing death, in a moment with nothing to live for, Harpis finally begins to fight. If he can find his voice, the gods may yet have ears that listen.
8 102One can only laugh in the face of destiny
This is the story of the most unlikely hero ever written. He knows not why he is here or what is expected of him and to be honest he does not really care as long as he gets to eat his snacks. But our hero's destiny is now tied to these new people he has never known. It is up to him and the unwilling Frank to overcome many trials ahead and save this god forsaken world.
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